In the last few years, the percentage of adults going through orthodontic treatments like braces has increased significantly. This is due in part to adults caring more and more about their mouth’s health and aesthetics, as well as realizing that they can also better their mouth’s health even if they didn’t do it at a young age. Realizing this opens a few questions that we’ll try to answer.

Can I Wear Adult Braces?

Yes, adults can wear braces. We may think of braces and most orthodontic treatments as for kids and teenagers only, but there is no age limit for them whatsoever. Of course, a great number of dental issues are better treated at a young age but that doesn’t mean that an adult can’t get the problem fixed later on.

If you are an adult with an orthodontic issue like crooked teeth, spaced teeth, a bad bite, etc. Rest assured that there is an orthodontic treatment ready to give you the smile you always wanted. Fortunately, for those worried about their appearance during the adult orthodontic treatment, depending on your specific situation, orthodontists will give you a handful of options of appliances for you to choose the one you are the most comfortable with.

What Orthodontic Appliances Are Available For Adults?

As just mentioned, adults can choose from a variety of appliances for their treatment. We will explain some of the most common orthodontic appliances available like regular metal braces, ceramic braces, and even clear aligners.

Remember that the options available to you will depend highly on what your orthodontic condition requires. As an example, sometimes you will need regular metal braces over other appliances because of the pressure they can apply to your teeth.

Metal Braces

The most common type of orthodontic appliance is metal braces. According to Medical News Today, they excel in giving the orthodontist more precise control over teeth movement even in more complicated cases.

Metal braces have various small metal pieces. First, there are metal brackets that stick to your teeth’s front side. Then a metal wire attaches to the brackets using ligatures, usually, they are little colored rubber bands. The metal wire, or archwire, pulls your brackets and teeth into position. Sometimes, moving your teeth or jaws requires more force so orthodontists use rubber bands that attach to your brackets. This band is different from ligatures.

Ceramic Braces

Ann Arbor Ceramic braces are very similar to regular metal braces with the obvious exception of materials used to make the appliance. As the material for the bracket is ceramic, the bracket can be either transparent or tooth-colored. Making it much less visible. Usually, the archwire will also be a shade of white to avoid standing out.

The clear benefit of ceramic braces is their less conspicuous appearance. However, you should be aware of their higher price compared to regular braces.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are, by far, the most different type of orthodontic treatment. It doesn’t use any kind of metal or ceramic and is basically invisible in your day-to-day activities. Invisalign works by using a clear plastic material to make detachable molds that fit snugly on your teeth. These molds, also known as trays, apply constant pressure on your teeth throughout the day. Every couple of weeks your orthodontist will give you a new set of trays to keep moving your teeth into the location wanted.

The benefits clear aligners have over regular braces are their natural look, the lack of dietary restrictions, and the comfort they offer. They even are similarly priced to metal braces. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to opt for this appliance as it has a limited range of orthodontic problems that it can fix.

Is Invisalign a Suitable Option Instead of Adult Braces?

Yes, Invisalign clear aligners are suitable for adults. Usually, we think of Invisalign for kids and teenagers but in reality, there is no age limit for Invisalign or clear aligners as a whole. Invisalign will work on any eligible patient regardless of their age. Luckily for everyone, that means that no matter when you opt to get your teeth aligned, you will be able to do it while maintaining your natural smile look.

Start Your Treatment When Ready

As we have explained previously, there is no age limit for braces or any similar orthodontic process. Whenever you are ready to get the beautiful and healthy smile that we all desire, contact us at SBK Orthodontics to start the best treatment for you.